Additional Ratings
A Private Pilot Licence is a licence to learn!
The following are licences and ratings offered at Spectrum Airways to increase your skills and knowledge.
Night Rating
A Night Rating is the most common first step after becoming a licensed Private Pilot, increasing the amount of flyable hours in a day!
The Night Rating requires 5 hours of instrument flying (since PPL, 10 hours in total), 5 hours of night dual instruction (2 hours cross country), and 5 hours of night solo flying (10 takeoffs and landings).
A Flight Instructor will verify that you have completed the minimum requirements. There is no flight test or written test required for the completion of your night rating.
Visual Flight Reference Over the Top (VFR OTT)
A VFR OTT Rating allows pilots to fly above a cloud layer, losing visual reference to the ground. This means that pilots must have additional training in instrument flying and navigation. Pilots will automatically receive this rating upon completion of their Commercial Licence or Instrument Rating.
The requirements for the VFR OTT Rating are 15 hours of dual instrument training (5 of which can be completed in a Simulator). Instrument hours previously obtained during a Private Licence, Commercial Licence, Night Rating, or Instrument Rating may be credited towards this.
A Flight Instructor will verify that you have completed the minimum requirements. There is no flight test or written test required for the completion of your VFR OTT Rating.
Note that the Multi-Engine and Group 1 Instrument Ratings are incorporated into our ACPL Program.
Multi Engine Rating (Burlington)
Multi-Engine training is conducted by one of our qualified instructors in our Piper Seneca. The prerequisite for this training is a private license or higher. There are no specified training time requirements, however we estimate around 10 hours of dual training.
Examination
There is no written exam, but there is a flight test. The flight test is conducted at Spectrum Airways on one of the Piper Seneca aircraft from our fleet.
Registration
Students interested in earning their multi-engine rating must apply online through Spectrum Airways Admissions as a Student Pilot.
Instrument Rating (Burlington)
Prerequisite is a Private Pilot License
Provide training for Group I (Multi-Engine) and Group III (Single Engine)
Minimum 40 hours DUAL instrument
100NM DUAL Cross-country
At two locations, fly IFR Approach at minimums
50 hours Cross-country PIC time
Examinations
Flight test and written test required
Written exam conducted at a Transport Canada Office must be completed prior to the flight test
Flight test administered by a Transport Canada Inspector
Registration
Students interested in earning their Instrument rating or MIFR must apply online through Spectrum Airways Admissions as a Student Pilot.
Instrument Proficiency Checks (IPC) (Burlington)
To maintain currency on your instrument rating, you must have completed 6 hours of instrument flying, and 6 approaches to minimums within the previous 6 months. If your currency expires, you can rely on Spectrum Airways for help with your IPC. Please refer to Advisory Circular AC401-004 for specific IPC details.
The programs on this page do not require approval under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005.